Livestock headgate

ABSTRACT

A livestock headgate having a stanchion with a pair of swinging gates, a synchronizing mechanism for closing the gates simultaneously, stop latches to hold the gates in a closed position and adjustable stop means for limiting the size of the opening between the gates.

United States Patent Luinstra 1451 Sept. 19, 1972 54] LIVESTOCK HEADGATE2,566,013 8/1951 Abernathy 19/103 [72] Inventor: Wilbert L. Luinstm, y yIowa, 3,221,707 12/1965 9 Pearson ..1 19/98 51349 Primary Examiner-HughR. Chamblee [22] Filed: Nov. 5, 1970 Attorney- Y Story [2]] Appl. No.:87,127 57 ABSTRACT v A livestock headgate having a stanchion with a pairof [52] US. Cl ..1 19/98 winging gate a ynchronizing mechanism forclosing [51] Int. Cl. ..A6ld 03/00 the gates simultaneously, stoplatches to hold the gates [58] Field of Search ..119/98, 99, 103, 147 ina closed position and adjustable stop means for limiting the size oftheopening between the gates.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 Claims, 9 Drawing FiguresPAIENTED EPI IB 3.691 9 98 sum 2 0f 3 TN ilbert L-Lun.str:a.

LIVESTOCK HEADGATE This invention relates to gates and more particularlyto a headgate for livestock. The gate may be installed in chutes,alleys, barn doors and the like. While the gate has general application,its principal use is for a stanchion to hold the heads of cattle andother animals.

In the handling of live stock, such as cattle, it is often necessary toconfine the animal for performing certain operations thereon includingblood testing, artificial insemination, ear tagging, pregnancy testingand other work. The devices for such confining must be of ruggedconstruction, but be conveniently operated and versatile in the lockingand releasing actions. The device of the present invention can beoperated from either side to lock the headgate or to release the animalforwardly or backwardly. The sides of the stanchion may be cocked intoward the animal just wider than the head, and the forward movement ofthe animal automatically closes and locks the stanchion.

The present invention is directed to a locking mechanism in associationwith a head gate and has for its principal object the provision of anarticle of manufacture including a split stanchion having a pair ofswinging gates or wings, a synchronized closing mechanism, a lockingdevice or latch to control the movement of the gates and preferably astop means for adjusting the size of the opening between the wings.

FIG. I is a perspective view of the headgate and locking mechanism withthe gate closed and locked.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an adjustable bracket for mounting thestanchion in variable size openings.

FIG. 2 is a top view along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1. I

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the headgate and locking device with thegate in an open position.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the headgate with the gate closed andthe head of a cow locked therein.

' FIG. 5 is a sectional view along the line 5- -5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view along the line'66 of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view along the line 7-7 of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view along the line 8-8 of FIGS. 5 and 6 showingthe gate closed as a solid line and the gate open as a broken line inFIG. 8.

Referring to FIG. 1, the mechanism of the invention comprises astanchion or gate designated generally by the numeral 10 and a lockingdevice indicated generally by the numeral 11. The stanchion contains atop pipe 14, a bottom pipe and side pipes 16 which are welded into aframe. The top pipe and bottom pipe are preferably about two inches indiameter and the side pipes are about one and one-half inches indiameter. Surrounding each of the side pipes 16 is a two inch pipe 18forming a hinge forthe swinging sides or wings 19 which may be closed oropened by the swivel handle 20. As optional attachments for the gate area nose plate 21 secured to a swivel bar 22 and a head holding lever 23,the latter elements being useful for holding the head of the animal insuch operations as dehorning. The stanchion may be installed in a chute,alley or barn door by screws or other fastening means inserted in theholes 25 of the top pipe 14 as shown by the dotted lines at the sides ofFIGS. 3 and 4. If it is desired to adapt the stanchion to various sizeopenings, an adjustable mounting bracket as shown in FIG. 1A may beattached to one or both sides of the frame. The mounting bracketcomprises a short pipe 27 the free end of which may be inserted in theend of pipe 14 or 15, an adjustable stop 29 and an end plate 32. Thestanchion or gate 10 is illustrative of one embodiment and other typesof gates may be employed.

Welded to the top of the gate are plates 26 to control the movement ofthe wings 19. Attached to the plates is a synchronizing mechanismindicated generally by the numeral 28 (FIG. 2) for closing both of thewings at the same time. The synchronizer has arms 30 which are attachedat one end to the plates 26 and at the other end to a cross bar 31. Thesynchronizer operates in a horizontal plane transverse to the verticalplane of the wings 19. When one of the wings of the gate is attempted tobe closed by operating the lever handle 20, the other wing is closedalso by the synchronizer.

A pair of flat rectangular plates 33 are attached at one end by weldingor otherwise to the top of each end portion of the pipe 14. The platesextend in opposite directions at right angles to the pipe, and the outerends of the plates are connected in swivel relation to a pair of stoplatches 34 (FIGS. 2 and 5). Attached to the top sides of the latch armsat the free end portions thereof are two flat irons 35 which are bent asshown in FIG. 8 so that the ends 38 are U-shaped. Also attached to theouter ends of the latch arms'34 is a coil spring 40 normally urging thelatches to a closed position as shown in the solid lines in FIG. 8. Inorder to prevent the latch arms from moving in too farga stop 36 islocated on the top of each plate 33. The stops 36 may conveniently bemade of a flat piece of steel about one-half inch wide, one inch longand one-half inch thick welded to the plates.

Secured to the top sides of the plates 33 are a pair of uprightstandards 41 the top ends of which are fastened to a sleeve 42.Operating in the sleeves is a rod 44 the ends of which are bent to formhandles 45 of a lever for opening the latches. Stops 47 prevent sidemovement of the lever. At the midsection of the lever rod 44 areattached fingers 48 one of which can be used when the lever handles 45are either in a horizontal or vertical position. The fingers are adaptedto fit between the U- shaped ends 38 so that the latches may be openedas shown by the broken lines in FIG. 8 by manipulation of the leverhandle 45.

As will be observed from FIG. 8, the fiat irons 35 are bent first toform an upright portion, then a horizontal portion and finally anotherupright portion producing the U-shapped ends 38. The first uprightportion and the horizontal portion form a vertical semi-rectangle makingspace for a bushing 50 which is about two inches in diameter and whichis fastened by a bolt to a sleeve 46. The sleeve surrounds the pipe 14and is connected on the underside to a cross arm 31 of the synchronizer.The bushing 50 may be made of hard rubber or other material suitable fora backstop. Abutting against the bushing when the gates are closed are apair of stop braces 52 which are attached at one end to the latch arm 34at the end portion which is attached to plates 33. The free ends 53 arebent at substantially right angles for abutting against the bushing 50,thereby locking the gates by preventing side movement of the arm 31.

Slidably mounted on the pipe 14' is an adjustable sleevelike stop 55 forlimiting thesize of the headspace between the gates. The stop is securedto the pipe 14 by a set screw 5.6.

In the operation of the embodiment of the invention shown in thedrawings and starting with the gate closed as pictured. in FIG. 1, thedoor is cocked in an open position as shown in FIG. 3 by a down swing ofthe lever handle, 45 The finger 48 presses against the. left side of theU-shaped upright 38 expanding the spring was shown in FIG. 8 and movingthe stop braces 52 outof locking position against the bushing 50. Thegate will open backwards as shown in FIG. 3. The locking mechanism willnow be in the position shown in FIG. 6 with the gate opening outwardlyinstead of inwardly as inFlG. 3. To assist in opening the gates the arm20 is moved in the appropriate direction. The stop 55 is set at apredetermine position depending on the size of the opening between thewings l9 desired. The size will depend on the type of animal and thesize of its head.

The embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings is for purposes ofillustration. Many variations may be made in the details of constructionwithout departing from the spirit of the invention and such variationsand modifications are considered as coming within the scope of theinvention.

l. A headgate for handling animals in cattleman operations and the likecomprising:

a detachable stanchion, for installing in a chute-like opening, havingtop, bottom and side means forming a frame, a pair of gates pivoted forswinging on said side means and spaced to allow an opening when closed.for the head of an animal to be restrained, and handle means at the sideof said stanchion and attached to at least one of said gates to open andclose the same,

a synchronizing mechanism for operating the gates in unison when onegates is manipulated by said handle means,

a stop means, for controlling the size of the head opining between thegates, having a sleeve slidably mounted on said top means of the frameand attached to said synchronizing mechanism, and an adjustable stopassociated with said top means to limit the movement of said sleeve, and

a locking mechanism, mounted on said top means of the frame, having ajam attached to said slidable sleeve, a pair of opposed braces forclosing in on said jam and resulting in locking the gates, and levermeans for releasing the braces from said stop means thereby allowingmovement thereof and resulting in unlocking the gates.

2. A device as described in claim 1 in which each gate has a platemounted on the top thereof to which said synchronizing mechanism isattached.

3. A device as described in claim 2 in which the synchronizing mechanismhas a pair of arms pivotally connected to said plates and a cross barpivotally connecting said arms.

4. A device as described in claim 1 in which the jam is an uprightbushing containing rubber-like material as a backstop.

5. A device as described in claim 1 in which said braces are attached toa pair of latch arms pivotally secured at one end to said top means ofthe frame.

. A device as described in claim 5 in which the other ends of the latcharms contain a pair of parallel upright standards which are normallyurged together by a spring.

7. A device as described in claim 6 in which a leve with a finger to fitbetween said standards is mounted in association with said lockingmechanism to open said latch arms and release the braces from said jamwhereby the gates may be opened.

1. A headgate for handling animals in cattleman operations and the likecomprising: a detachable stanchion, for installing in a chute-likeopening, having top, bottom and side means forming a frame, a pair ofgates pivoted for swinging on said side means and spaced to allow anopening when closed for the head of an animal to be restrained, andhandle means at the side of said stanchion and attached to at least oneof said gates to open and close the same, a synchronizing mechanism foroperating the gates in unison when one gates is manipulated by saidhandle means, a stop means, for controlling the size of the head opiningbetween the gates, having a sleeve slidably mounted on said top means ofthe frame and attached to said synchronizing mechanism, and anadjustable stop associated with said top means to limit the movement ofsaid sleeve, and a locking mechanism, mounted on said top means of theframe, having a jam attached to said slidable sleeve, a pair of opposedbraces for closing in on said jam and resulting in locking the gates,and lever means for releasing the braces from said stop means therebyallowing movement thereof and resulting in unlocking the gates.
 2. Adevice as described in claim 1 in which each gate has a plate mounted onthe top thereof to which said synchronizing mechanism is attached.
 3. Adevice as described in claim 2 in which the synchronizing mechanism hasa pair of arms pivotally connected to said plates and a cross barpivotally connecting said arms.
 4. A device as described in claim 1 inwhich the jam is an upright bushing containing rubber-like material as abackstop.
 5. A device as described in claim 1 in which said braces areattached to a pair of latch arms pivotally secured at one end to saidtop means of the frame.
 6. A device as described in claim 5 in which theother ends of the latch arms contain a pair of parallel uprightstandards which are normally urged together by a spring.
 7. A device asdescribed in claim 6 in which a lever with a finger to fit between saidstandards is mounted in association with said locking mechanism to opensaid latch arms and release the braces from said jam whereby the gatesmay be opened.